England beat Croatia 4-2 in their opening World Cup game, with Thomas Tuchel’s half-time team talk proving to be a catalyst for the second-half display – but Roy Keane says the reaction has been overblown
Manchester United legend Roy Keane reckons there’s been an exaggerated response to Thomas Tuchel’s half-time team talk during the Croatia match. England emerged 4-2 victors against their Group L opponents, delivering a strong opening statement.
The Three Lions produced an outstanding second-half performance, with Jude Bellingham and Manchester United star, Marcus Rashford getting on the scoresheet to secure three points in the group’s opening fixture. A double from Harry Kane had been pegged back by Martin Baturina and Petar Musa’s excellent first-half strikes.
Yet Tuchel and assistant coach Anthony Barry were dissatisfied with the opening 45 minutes. Players including Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and Jude Bellingham have all publicly commended the head coach for his interval remarks, which sparked the improved second-half showing.
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Keane, though, isn’t buying into the hype. Speaking to ITV, the United legend said: “Is it a bit of an overreaction to his half-time team talk? What’s he supposed to do?”.
“That is his job isn’t it? That’s the manager’s job to give them the information and they go out and produce.
“That’s what any top manager will do, you get them at half-time and you remind them what they’re supposed to be doing. It’s a bit over the top.”
England appeared threatening in attack against Croatia, but seemed vulnerable defensively before Tuchel’s interval intervention, with Kane applauding the manager after the final whistle.
The Three Lions striker said: “I thought it was a game of two halves. I thought first half we were OK but really disappointed to concede the way we did, the way we dropped off.
“Credit to the manager. The manager gave us a speech at half-time, just to say if we lose we lose, but we lose in our way.
“You saw that the way we came out in the second half, we came out full gas. They couldn’t live with it and that’s the level we have to set every game.
“Credit to everyone. The first game of the tournament. A great result against a tough side.”
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Rice was also among those to commend Tuchel, with the Arsenal midfielder saying: “All round I think it was a great performance. He [Tuchel] was top at half-time. The words he used, what he said, settled everyone.
“I can’t say too much, but it was just one of those moments where you’re like, wow, what a top manager. I think we went out in the second half, and everyone was relaxed, and we just went for it.
“In the end, obviously, we could have scored a lot more than what we did. Their goalkeeper played unbelievably well. But to get a win and to have different goal scorers was brilliant.”
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